Riqui Puig Faces Another Knee Surgery, Possibly Missing a Second Season
The LA Galaxy face the potential absence of midfielder Riqui Puig for a second consecutive season, following the team’s announcement that Puig will undergo a second surgery on Saturday to address a torn ACL that sidelined him for all of 2025.
Puig, 26, suffered the knee injury during the 2024 MLS Western Conference final against Seattle. The following week, the Galaxy clinched their sixth league title. However, without Puig’s contributions in 2025, the team endured its worst season in franchise history, securing only seven victories.
The Barcelona youth academy product had returned to training with the Galaxy in the fall but experienced a setback after returning to Spain for the holidays. After consultations with the club’s medical staff and outside specialists, both Puig and the Galaxy agreed that a second surgery was necessary.
The timeline for Puig’s recovery will be assessed post-surgery, but his absence would significantly impact a team that struggled offensively last season without him. His playmaking ability has underscored his value as the Galaxy’s most irreplaceable player. In 2024, Puig recorded career highs with 13 goals and 15 assists, leading the league in touches and passes. His absence was felt profoundly in 2025, as the team’s possession-based strategy faltered, leading to 23 fewer goals and only one player, winger Joseph Paintsil, reaching double figures in scoring.
Last season, the Galaxy opted not to place Puig on the season-ending injury list in hopes of a return. However, if doctors determine he is likely to miss the upcoming season, it is expected that the team will reconsider this approach, as placing him on the list could free up a designated player slot. Puig, who had the eighth-largest contract in MLS at $5.78 million, is under contract through 2027.
In the meantime, the Galaxy had a productive offseason prior to the announcement regarding Puig, having acquired Jakob Glesnes, a former MLS Defender of the Year, in a trade with the Philadelphia Union, alongside signing free agent Justin Haak.
